Heating apparatus



Jan. s, 1946. G; P' E 2,392,692

HEATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /6 :!i .--li 2 2/ WITNESSES: HILME J INVENTOR .2 "E I 40 650205 f. Pz/cs BY FIG. :3.

Jan. 8, 1946. s, E. PRlCE v 2,392,692

HEATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1'7, 1942 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 1 w FIG. 6.- BY

ATTORNE Patented Jan. 8, 19 46 George E. Price, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 17, 1942, Serial No. 431,212

This invention relates to electrical ranges of the general type having a platform or table-type top and surface-heating units mounted in openings in the platform or top thereof, and an object is to provide an improved low-cost simple and reliable range of this type.

Another object is to provide a range embodying an improved combination of drip pan and removable orv plug-in type surface heating unit.

A further object is to provide an improved range having a platform or table-type top with a drip pan integral with the platform or top thereof and a surface heating element removably supported over the drip pan.

A still further object is to provide an improved range having a drip pan integral with the platform or top thereof, and a side terminal-removable or plug-in type heating element having terminals which project through an opening in the side of the drip pan whereby the edges of the opening in the drip pan guide the terminals as t the heating element is placed in its normal operating position.

A still further object is to provide an improved range having a drip pan integral with the platform or top thereof and a surface heating unit removably supported over the drip pan and connected to a suitable source. of power in such manner that when the heating element is removed for cleaning of the same and the drip pan, the power supply terminals are isolated from accidental contact by the user, thereby protecting the user from danger of accidental electrical shock. p

These and other objects are effected by the invention as will be apparent from the following description and claim taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a range embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken approximately along line 11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken approximately along line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the range shown ,in Fig. 1, with parts broken away to simplify illustration;

Fig. 5 is a section taken along line V-V of Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary. sectional view of a modification.

Referring to the drawings for a detail description of the invention, in Fig. 1, there is shown a range ill of any desirable design having a substantially horizontal platform of table-type top H preferably formed from sheetmetal, which is coated with an acid-resistant or ground coat of vitreous enamel after the sheet metal is shaped to provide the range, although, it may be formed from some other suitable material.

The platform or top I I is provided with a plurality of openings 12 in which surface heating elements I3, on which cooking utensils, such as pots, pans, and the like, may be heated, are positioned. An opening in which a deep-well cooker i5 is positioned is also provided in the platform. A dished combination drip pan and reflector I6 is positioned below each of the openings i2 and directly below each of the respective heating elements II. To simplify illustration of the invention, only one heating element and only one pan will be described in detail, it being understood that the other heating elements and pans are formed and arranged in the same manner.

The pan I6 is defined by a substantially horizontal imperforate bottom wall l8, a substantially vertical cylindrical side wall IS, a substanplatform tially horizontal shoulder adjacent the top of the side wall l9, and a substantially vertical cylindrical portion 2i extending upwardly from a shoulder 20. The pan may also include a substantially horizontal flange 22 which extends from the top of the cylindrical portion 2|. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the pan I6 is attached to the platform or top of the range by welding the flange 22 to the underside of the II peripherally of the opening l2. However, it is understood that the panmay be formed integral with the platform H by drawing the material within the boundary defined by the opening l2, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The side wall ll of the pan is also preferably imperforate, exceptfor an'opening 23 through which the terminals of the heating element It extend when the'heating element is in its normal-use position.

The heating element i3 consists of a grid of sheathed wire. .This sheathed wire consists of a spiral of resistance wire 25 embedded in insulation material 26 and surrounded by atubular metal sheath 21. As shown in Fig. 4, the gridis formed of two separate coils or spirals 28 and 29 for the purpose of obtaining different degrees of heat, as is well understood in the art. The coils are properly connected for obtaining the different degrees of heat by switches (not shown) which are controlled'by knobs Ill (Fig. 1). The grid'is mounted in substantially right angular supporting arms 33 and 34, ends 35 of which rest on the 2 asoaeos shoulder II on the pan II and support the grid intheopening l2. Itwillbenotedthatthe surface of the grid is somewhat above the fist platform ortop Ii oftherangesothat when an article, as for instance, a cooking utensil, is placed upon the range it will rest directly upon the'grid.

The ends the coils or spirals 28 and 28 are brought to one side of the grid and fastenedto a terminal shield 82 by brazing, welding, or swaging to make a water-tight joint. A substantially rectangular nonconducting terminal block 11 is positioned within the terminal shield 82. The terminal block 31 fits snugly around knife bladetype terminals 38 which are connected to the ends oi the resistance wires 2!. It will be noted that the terminals 38 project a substantial distance beyond the peripheral edge of the grid. This facilitates placing of the heating element into its normal-use position in the opening i2 and also permits the cooperating terminals, which are described hereinafter, to be located a substantial dhtance from the opening 28 in the side wall it of the pan. This reduces the pombility of accidentally contacting them and consequently receiving an electrical shock from the same when the heating element It is removed from the opening 82.

A terminal block 40 of non-conducting material is attached in any suitable manner to the under side of the platform or top H and in line with ie opening 23 in the pan. This terminal block carries pairs of bent spring clip terminals or contacts M between which the knife blade terminals 38 engage and contact therewith when the heating element It is in its normal-use position. The spring clip contacts M are connected to a suitable source of power by conductor strips 42, screws 43, and conductors M. Insulatin shields 45 depend from the base portion of the terminal block 40 down between the adjacent sets of clip contacts 4!. The bends in the lower edges of the adjacent pairs of clip contacts provide a flaring, entrance to the space between adjacent pairs of the contacts, which facilitates insertion of the knife blade terminals 33 therebetween.

To place the heating element it in its normaluse position, it is tilted upward at the left, as indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 2, and the terminals 38 and the terminal block 3': are projected through the opening 23 in the side wall oi the pan: The heating element is then lowered to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. In the meantime, it is also moved to the right to cause the knife blade terminals 88 to engage the respective clip contacts 4! and thereby connect the heating element It to the power supply.

The aperture 23 in the side wall of the pan is justa little wider than the terminal block 31, as shown in Fig. 5, and as the heating element It is placed in its normal-use position, the marginal portions 48 (Fig. 5) of the side wall of the pan adjacent the ends of the aperture 23 serve to guide the terminal block 31 and consequently the knifebiade terminals 38 so that the knife-blade terminals properly engage the respective spring clip contacts 4i, when the heating element is lowered to its normal-use position in the opening it.

The heating element It may be removed from the opening l2 to clean the same or to clean the drip pan it, as by gripping the supporting-arms 33 and 34 of the grid near their centers or, in other words, near where they cross each other at 41, and lifting up on the'grid so as to raise the left-hand side, as seen in Fig. 2. from the opening I2. This movement'swings the knife-blade terminals 8| downward from between the clip contacts ll and breaks the electrical connection to the heating element ll. Then the heating element is moved to the left to draw the terminal block and consequentl the knife-blade terminals through the opening II in the side wall of the After the heating element It has been removed from the opening in the manner Just described,- it may be taken over a sink or the like and all foreign matter scraped or w ed from the same. The pan l8 mayalsobewi clean withawet rag or any other suitable implement.

The bottom ll of the opening 28 in the side wall I! of the pan is preferably a substantial distance above the bottom wall it of the pan. This provides a considerable collection space 48 in the bottom of the pan for catching grease, crumbs, or any other matter that might drop from vessels heated on the heating element.

The inside of the pan" ismade shinyby polishing the same or-applying a shiny coating of acid-resistant or ground coat enamel thereon so as to provide a reflector which reflects heat radiated downwardly irom the bottom of the heating element It upwardly again to the vesselbeingheated. Thepanmaybeenameled at the same time that the platform is enameled. This permits the manufacturing cost to be held to a minimum, and, if the pan is formed separately and attached to the platform, the enameling material collects in any cracks between the pan and the platform and gives the apperance that the pan is iormed integral with the platorm.

In some instances, when the heating element It is removed for cleaning of the same and the pan, the clip contacts 4| might be energized, such 40 as might happen it through negligence or accident the knobs in controlling the switches are turned to "011 position. An advantage of this construction is that, i: this should happen, it is almost impossible for one cleaning the pan to accidentally contact the energized contacts ll because they are located outside of the pan l8 and are a sufficient distance from the opening 23 so that it is very improbable that one cleaning the pan will contact them unless an intentional efiort is made to do so.

Heretofore, electric ranges have been provided with movable heating elements and removable reflector and drip pans located below the heating elements in such manner that the pans may be removed from the range for cleanin of the same. In these constructions, the vpan and the heating element both are generally movable, and to remove the pan one must raise the heating element with one hand and remove the pan with the other hand. An advantage of the present construction is that there is only one movable part, the heating element, and it may be removed with one hand to permit cleaning of the same and the pan.

In the prior art constructions, the pan generally has openings in the bottom thereof for the heating element terminals to pass through. It has been found that grease and the like also passes through these holes and drips down into the range structure below the pan. when this grease becomes hot or rancid, it gives ofl oflensive odors. Accordin ly, another advantage of the present construction is that the pan has no holes in the bottom thereof through which grease struction is that a much stronger platform or top can be provided, without the use of braces or other reinforcing means, by making the pan integral with the platform or top or by permanently attaching it thereto, than is possible with the prior art construction wherein the pans are removable from the platform or top.

From the foregoing description and the drawing, it is seen that this invention provides an improved low-cost simple and reliable electrical range havinga substantially horizontal platform or top, and a reflector and drip pan formed integral with the platform or top, wherein all of the advantages mentioned hereinbefore are present.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claim.

What I claim is:

./ In an electric range, the combination of a sheet sheet metal drip and reflector pan structure having a side wall, said pan structure being welded to said platform peripherally of said opening and depending from the platform in line with said 'opening, a vitreous enamel covering on said platform and said pan structure, said coating being applied to said platform and said pan structure as a unit after they have been attached together, said pan structure having an aperture in the side wall thereof, a heating element adapted to be supported over said pan structure for cooking on the platform and readily removable therefrom for cleaning of the same and the pan, said heating element including a terminal structure, said terminal structure being adapted to pass through said aperture in the side wall of the pan structure when said heatin element is placed in its normal-use position over the pan structure for surface cooking on the platform and when it is removed for cleaning of the same and the pan, and contact means disposed exterior of said pan structure beneath said platform and engageable by said terminal structure for electrically connecting said heating element to a suitable source of power to heat said heating element to cooking temperature.

GEORGE E. PRICE. 

